A Sign Language Interpreter’s Experience in Brazil

In 2002 Brazil added a second official language; the libras, which is Brazilian sign language. In 2017 a regulation was created that mandated telephone companies to offer interpreting services to the deaf and hearing impaired. This service helps them to make phone calls to complete every day issues such as talking to family members and friends, setting up medical appointments and making phone calls to companies for complaints. The only thing we cannot interpret is personal information regarding finances or medical appointments, excluding results to protect personal information. This is done by using an app called Central de libras. With a simple click on their smartphone a video call begins with a sign language interpreter who mediates their calls by using Portuguese and Brazilian sign.

Being a part of this new endeavor has taught me the power and impact that clear communication has. I have learned that each person has a different level of fluency and dialect in their own mother tongue. This requires persistence, patience and interest on behalf of the interpreter so that we can fully grasp what others have to say. However, connecting with others is more important than having a huge vocabulary. Nonetheless, I strive to improve my signaling, my English and my Portuguese in order to understand and to be easily understood.

I started learning sign language to be useful to others. At home, I would read the dictionary and paste pictures to aid in memorization. I attended Jehovah’s Witness meetings three times a week where I had contact with the fascinating Deaf culture and made many friends. Shortly thereafter I met a young deaf woman who did not leave her house and never went to school. Each week I shared with her what I was learning, and in turn she learned her own language, became literate, and helped me to become an interpreter.

I hope that in the future more people will learn sign language, so the deaf will experience real inclusion and we interpreters will work in increasingly targeted sectors such as the legal, hospital and artistic areas. By learning sign you will be able to interact with thousands of Deaf and hearing impaired people and with many interpreters. You will have access to a new culture, a unique way of life and you will learn a visual-spatial language.

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Teaching is the best way to learn. The sites that helped me the most and still do in both sign language and in English are: YouTube where I watch natives and copy the way they express themselves and Jw.org which owns articles with audio, subtitled videos, and all of the content is available in almost 1000 languages including multiple sign languages. While studying by yourself is very useful, having interaction is imperative. Whenever I can I practice with teachers to have individualized attention.

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